In Greek mythology, Phorcys was the father of the three Gorgons, including Medusa.
Phorcys was an ancient sea god whose name is also spelled Phorcys or Phorkys. In Hesiod’s Theogony, he and his sister Ceto are presented as the parents of several dangerous or unusual beings, including the Gorgons. Their children belong to the older generation of mythic creatures associated with the sea and the edges of the known world.
The Gorgons were Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale. Medusa was mortal, while Stheno and Euryale were immortal. This family relationship is sometimes confused with the later story in which Medusa is linked romantically with Poseidon; Poseidon is the father of Medusa’s children, not the father of the Gorgons.
Phorcys also appears in genealogies as the father of the Graeae and other monstrous figures. Different ancient authors vary in details, but Phorcys and Ceto are the standard parents in Hesiodic tradition.